Plying apparatus and method



Oct. 29, 1957 N. E. KLEIN FLYING APPARATUS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1956 INVENTORA NORMAN E. KLEIN BY 4% 5M ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 N. E. KLEIN v FLYING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 25. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 O 9 4 r w J 1 HM $w WM/ 0 4 260 5 5 O 9 586 9 FIG-3- O 0 0 9 2 w m 1 m 6 I N m K x\ \\\\\w\ 2 w v W 6 l 6 6 o 2 6 5 INVENTOR. NORMAN E. KLEIN BY W42 5% ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 I N. E. KLEIN 2,811,012

FLYING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR." NORMAN E. KLEIN BY IWJKFM ATTORNEY PLYING APPARATUS AND METHOD Norman E. Klein, Pendleton, S. C., assignor to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Pendieton, S. C., a corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,540 17 Claims. (Cl. 57-583) This invention relates to ply-action spindle arrangements and more particularly to a new and improved equalizer capstan array for use in such arrangements.

In copending applications of N. E. Klein and E. J. Wright, Serial Number 512,552, and Klein, Serial Number 516,391, there are disclosed ply-action twister arrangements for ply-twisting two strands of yarn into atwo-ply yarn or cord, which employ a capstan array comprising a pair of canted capstans connected together for synchronous rotation about their respective axes through the: medium of an idler gear which is also rotatably mounted about acentral axis. A separate strand of yarn is fed to each of these two capstans, each yarn from a separate source of supply, with one of the strands be ing driven in ballooned relation about the source of supply for the other of the strands. The ballooned yarn strand serves to impart rotation to the capstan unit, and by bringing the two strands together at a Y-ply point beyond the two canted capstans and along the axisof rotation of the idler gear a highly advantageous plying. action will take place, thereby forming a two-ply cord which is continuously progressed away from the ply point by a suitable means. These capstans serve very elfectively to meter the yarn flow of the two strands each at the same rate to the plying point under wide variations of tension. It is, however, desirable that the tension inthe strands being plied be approximately equalized, particularly in the case of resilientor elastic materials such. as nylon, in order to avoid the formation of a plied: yarn or cord which has unbalanced twist or corkscrew con figuration, wherein tensile strength is impaired. With.

the previousv arrangements, it is difiicult to equalize the operating tensionin the strands because of inaccessibility of the strands approaching said ply point. In the previous practice quantitative measurements of the tension values are taken while running each strand singly through the system and necessary adjustments are then made. These quantitative tension measurementsare not only diflicult, but are also time consuming and subject to considerable: error.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention toprovide an improved ply action capstan array permitting ready and accurate tension adjustments to be madein a more facile. manner.

It is a further object toprovide a; ply action metering capstan array permitting visual? determination: t? difierentia'l tension the; strands being plied, and" visual balancing oh the: tension. through visual centering of the plypoint with respect: to the plying axis by strand tension adjustment. I

A; stillrfurt-hen objectis to provide a pl y action capstan arrayin: which metering and' tension balancing of the plying. strands may be selectively andseparately accent-- plished without basically altering-the path ofi the strands being, plied.

, Still another object is to provide: a ply action array of the type having two or more capstans for metering individual strands being plied, which is arranged for selective metering or non-metering action by the capstans on the strands passing in engagement therewith. A still further object is to provide a ply action array of the'type having twoor more strand engaging'capstans for metering and guiding individual strands being plied, which is arranged for selective locked-in synchronous rotat'ive movement one with the other or free rotative movement independent of one another.v

Briefly, a preferred embodiment ofthe'. invention. takes the form of a pair of symmetrically arranged capstans having individual axes of rotation canted. with respect to each other and with respect to a major axis. of rotation common to both capstangthe capstans .beingarranged for selective meshing engagementv with a common. idler gear which in turn is rotatably mounted for free-rotation about said major axis. Strands being; plied are fed to a ply point in selective substantially synchronously metered or independent relation by selectively, coupling or decoupling the capstans by selectively meshing ordemeshing gears on the capstans with the idler gear. vDuring ply action with the capstans disengaged and free for independent rotation about their respective individual axes; the lateral position of the ply point. relative vto said major axis of rotation will be dependent upon the' differential tension in the strands being plied, These strand tensions may thus be balanced by adjustment. of the tension in one of the strands until, the 913 point is stable and in substantial ali nment with said maiorl axis. Upon balancing of the tensionsto the degreedesired the idler gear and capstans are brought intom'eshed engage ment, and in this condition of the array the strands are substantially synchronously metered in passing to ply point, as in the above-mentioned co-pendingapplig cations, irrespective of small variations. in tensioniwhich may occur in the strands as they are fed'to the capstans, which tension variations are not sufliciently large to resu'lt inyarn slippage on the capstans. j

A further advantage is realized in being ahleto-substantially balance the operating" tensions off two strands: of resilient or" elastic material such 'as nylon, being. plied so that the elfective weights'per unit length. (i'. e denier} of individual strands are substantially. equal; andl sueh thatthe recovery properties of eachstrand.- are substantially equal so as to form a balanced cord construction;

Still other objects and many attendant; advantagesgwilli become apparent from the following description of a. preferred embodiment of the invention, takemin conjt mth tion with the accompanying drawings',,wherein,

Figure 1 illustrates schematically the general'arrange ment of a" ply action device incorporating; theinventiont:

Figure 2 is a plan view ofa; capstan arrangement according to the invention and as illustrated in Figure 1.-

Figure 3' is apartial d'iametral section view bi-ha capstan arrangement of Figure 2 taken along the line III-III.

Figure 4 is a partial diametral section view takenalong line IV-IV of Figure 2, and showing. the capstaneow pling, gear in its axial position whencoupled. 1 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figurev 4,. butshowing the coupling gear in its axial position whendecoupled.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the. upper end oi the rotor shaft; of the capstan array.

Figures Tand 8 are side elevationsshowing the cap .stan' array in' coupled and decoupled positions, respec tively.

external source, such as supply package-1111i fed through an adjustable tensioning .a'sseml'a'ly13, thence,

Referring to Figure l, a strandof. yarn A incinan rx t andin a semi-loop or balloon about the exterior surface-'of'a cylindrical housing 19, and thence in wrap ofc apstan array .40," then in wrap-around relation about i proceeding' jto the ply point of the'two strands. V Ilie 'plie d' or cord'AB' is fedfrom the ply point byf'iopstant'speed driven feedroll arrangement 25, and

the other capstan 44 of the array40, and thereupon thenceontofa' take-up bobbin 2! driven in anysuit'able regimen-as by a'surface contact roll 29. The spindle shaft 15 feedrdllarrangement 25 and surface drive roll 29 may be synchronously driven from either common or indcpendentsources of power, as described and illustrated infthe aforementioned copending application of Klein and wrighflfandfisi therefore not shown herein.

The j foregoing general arrangement is substantially identical with that'jillustrated and described in the aforementioned "copending application of Klein'and Wright,

end of the shaft. The outer race of each of the bear ings is press fitted into the bore of respective capstans 42 and 44, whereby eachcapstan is thus adapted for free rotation about its respective stub shaft 75. In the illustrated embodiment, capstans 42 and 44 are grooved or channelled as indicated at 80; however, this channel or groove 80 may be modified or eliminated as may be desired to fit the needs or desires in any particular instance of use.

The rotor shaft 60 has a central axial bore 86 therethrough having a guide 87 secured, as by a set screw 88, in an enlarged portion thereof at the upper end, which bore 86 and guide 87 serve to guidea strand B from the tensioning assembly 23 through an axial path to the capstan 44. To assist in guiding the strand A to the capstan 42 there may be provided a pigtail or other type guide 89 which is fixed to the upper or head end '71 of rotor shaft 60. p

Capstans 42 and 44 are selectively coupled together for synchronous rotation about their respective canted axes through the medium of an axially movable rotatable idler face gear 90 selectively engageable in meshed rela- 1 tion with bevel gears 82, 84 formed integral with, as

d'=' i$' illustrated anddescribed in the instant application. forflthefpurpo'se of providing an understanding of the operatio n of the instant invention in its usual envirdnmentfas presently employed. Further details vof thisfggnera larrangementwill therefore not be described,

the-invention 'not'residing in the details thereof, but in 1 the novel decoupling equalizer capstan array 40, as next described jn detaihjas'well as the novel combination of such a decoupling 'array'in a jtwister arrangement of the general ch racter above described, and the method of i Dcobplin g'cap'stan array is mounted on 'a supporting bracket 46.suitably secured at itsfbase end to the upper endof cylindricalhousing 19 and having secured thereto at its'ppper end an adjustable split clamping sleeve'48; 'Capstan' array 40 comprises 'a cylindrical lroiisidg SllmountedWithin sleeve 48 for ease of bodily removal'ilrerefrom, if desired. Press fit into shouldered end-recesses ir'r'housing 50 are two low-friction bearings 52," 5 4 'having,a spacer sleeve 56 therebetween and which supportwithin the inner race thereof for free rotation therein 'a rotorshaft 60, the axis of rotation of which isalig'ned with thejalxis of rotation of spindle shaft 15' as illu'str'atedin the instant embodiment. The intermediate upperportion' of shaft 60 is enlarged as indicated at62'toform a shoulder 64 thereon whichbears against the upper-surface of a bearing separator washer 66 resting onthe upperen'd of the inner race of bearing 52. *The lower end ofshaft 60 has a reduced threaded portion extending beyond bearing 54, onto which is secured" a lockvnut68, which together with shoulder 64 and washer- 66 serves to retain the shaft against axial displacement withinhousing and bearing assembly 50, 52,54.

- The extreme-upperend of shaft 60 is enlarged to form a head 71 having apair of opposed upwardly and inwardly- -inclined planar faces 72, 73 each of which supports one'of the two fstrand metering capstans 42 and 44; Eaoli of'cap'stans 42 and 44 is arranged for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of its respective adjacent face 72 or 73, and to this end two stnb shafts 74 are threadedly secured each in a respective tapped bore in ,each of the planar faces 72, 73. a Intermediate'theends of each of stub shafts 74 is a standoff "collarffli against one end of which is seated the inner face" or alow-fr iction bearing 76 held on the stub shaft by a lock {nut .85 threadedly secured on the free illustrated, or connected to the adjacent end of each of ca'pstans 42 and 44. To this end face gear 9 01hasa central shouldered recess therein which is press fitted over the outer race of a bearing 92 the retention of which is assisted by a snap ring 94 releasably fitted within a shallow groove in the inner peripheral wall 96, of said recess.

The inner race of bearing 92ris axially slidably fitted over the enlarged section 62 of shaft 60 and thereby provides for axial movement of idler face gear 90 on the shaft. Atthe upper end of axial movement of gear and bearing assembly 90, 92 (which movementis limited by a shoulder 63 formed on shaft 60) the teeth of gear 90' mesh with the teeth of capstan bevel-gears 82 and 84 (as. shown in Figures 1-, 3, and 7) while at the lower endof movement gear 90 is completely disengaged from the capstan gears and each capstanis free to rotateinde, pendently on its own canted axis, as shown in FigureS. i' Detent means inthe form of a bent spring wire .100 is provided to selectively urge gear;90 upwardly toward and 'into'mesh with gears 82 and 84 or to frictionally aid in retaining the'gear 90 in its lowered or disengaged position. 'Wire 100 is made of stiff spring stock, the upper end thereof being straight and secured as by a set screw i 102 in a longitudinal eccentrically disposed aperture 104 at'thepupper end of shaft 60. 'The lower end of detent wire 100-is disposed within a channel 186 formed in the head end and intermediate portion of shaft 60 beneath'apen ture 104, and is positioned with the bent end disposed radially outwardly and downwardly whereby it forms an effective cam surface 101 bearing against-the inner race of bearing 92. By suitably disposing the aperture 104 atan eccentric or off-center p'ositiomas illustrated, or by otherwise appropriately bending the detent wire 100 the cam surface 101 will in all positions of the idler gear and bearingassembly 90, 92 exert a radial binding force on the inner race of bearing 92. In any axial position of the gear where the outer end of cam surface 101 is beneath the lower surface of the inner race of bearing 92 ;the cam surface vwillalso exert an upward axial thrustonthe bearing. Thus when idler gear assembly 90, 92 has been moved to its uppermost axial position with idler gear When the idler gear and bearing assembly 90,92 is moved to e a lower position such that the point on the cam end 101 of detent is in engagement with the inner cylindriin such axial position. This is due to the frictional efiect between the inner surface of the bearing inner race and the adjacent surface 62 of shaft 60 as well as the lower end of detent 100. g

While such eamming andfrictional effects alone would be sufiicient for retention of the idler gear and bearing assembly in either its upper or lower axial positions such would be otherwise deficient in providing only a substantially two point suspension (i. e. the point of contact between detent 100 and bearing 92 and the diametrically opposite point of tangential contact between shaft surface 62' and bearing 92) with resultant instability of and un desirable rocking motion of the gearing and bearing assembly about a transverse line running through this two point suspension. It is therefore desirable that a three point suspension be provided for bearing 92, and such is provided in the illustrated embodiment by the inclusion 'of a small steel ball 110 in a longitudinal slot 111, the lower end of which is provided with a 45 sloped cam surface 113, in the enlarged periphery 62 of shaft '60 at an angular position 120 from the position of detent spring 100. Ball 110 is eifectively held for restrained rotation within slot 111 by a coil spring 112 bearing at one end thereagainst and at the other end against the upper end of the slot 111. Spring 112 urges ball 110 downward against cam surface 113, resulting in a radially outward force component which urges the ball 110 into tangential contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the inner race of bearing 92. It will thus be apparent that this arrangement effectively provides a stable three point suspension for bearing 92 which consists of the points of contact between the inner surface of bearing 92 and detent 100, ball 11!) and the point or line of tangential contact betweenthe'bearing 92 and peripheral surface 62 of. shaft 60; which is equipositioned between and 120 from: each of the other two points of contact.

It is to '56: noted that during rotation of the capstan array about its major axis the retention action of the detent arrangement in holding the gearing and bearing assembly 90., 92 in either meshed or disengaged position is increased through the action of centrifugal force on the wire 100 as well as on the ball 110. Thus, with this greater retention action the gear 90 is more tightly locked into the desired vposition during active twisting action of the array than while the array is stopped.

An effective stop for limiting movement of idler gear and bearing assembly 90, 92 downwardly is provided in the form of bearing separator washer 66. If desired, in order to further assist in retaining the idler gear and bearing assembly in a lowered or decoupled position a shallow circumferential groove (not shown.) may be pro vided in the inner periphery of the inner race of bearing 92, such that the free end or point of detent 100' will engage therewith in the lowered positions of the bearing, although this retention groove arrangement has not proven to be necessary in practice.

In operation the balloon strand A is fed through strandaligning guide 89 to and in wrap-around relation about the periphery of capstan 42 and thence to the Y plypoint, while strand B is fed through bore 86, guide 87, in reverse. wrap-around relation about the periphery of capstan 44 and thence to the Y ply-point, from which point the plied cord AB proceeds over feed roll arrang ment 25 and thence to take-up bobbin 27.

The operator makes a preliminary approximate adjustment of tension assemblies 13 and 23, as dictated by the speed at which the apparatus is to be run and the type of strand material involved. The tension to be imparted to strand A will be that which is necessary to yield the desired balloon size for the particular strand A at the operating speed. While the spindle is stopped he then grasps gear 99 and disengages it from capstan bevel gears 82 and 84 to thereby decouple the capstans 42 and 44 for independent rotation about their respective axes. The spindle shaft 15 and cord feed and take-up assemblies 25, 27 are then started and the strands A and B are thereby caused to be pulled from their respective sources of supply and fed over capstans 42 and 44 respectively and into plying engagement at the Y ply-point. Due to capstans 42 and 44 not being coupled together, any tension differential between the strands A and B will be transmitted directly to the ply point and will result in lateral displacement of the ply point radially from the axis of rotor shaft 60, thereby giving avisual indication of tension unbalance" in the strands A and B being fed. While trial and error adjustments may then be made in the strand tension to determine which strand is under the greater tension, as by first increasing or decreasing the tension imparted to strand B by tension assembly 23 and then observing the results, and thereafter making fur= th'er trial and error adjustments to obtain tension. balance as indicated by axial alignment of the ply point, it is'de sirable to employ a stroboscope to observe the action of the ply point during running of the apparatus- By the use of a stroboscopic light the rotation of the capstan array 40 can be visually stopped during operation thereof and a rapid and correct visual determination can be made' as to whichstrand, A or B, is under greater tension. adjustment may then be made on tension assembly 23 to increase or decrease, as may be necessary, the tension in inner strand B, and the apparatus is restarted to de termine whether such adjustment has been insufficient, too much, or sufiicient to bring the inner strand B tension into balance with that of balloon strand A. If further adjust ments are necessary, this procedure may be repeated until the strand tensions are properly balanced. In any event it is desirable to make such balancing adjustments on the inner strand, B, since the tension in the outer strand serves to control the balloon size and should be maintained substantially at a predetermined va'l-uerwithin close limits to achieve the most advantageous results.

Upon achieving proper balance of'the tension in the two strands A and B, as indicated by the centering of the ply point, the operator then, while the machine is stopped, grasps the gear and moves it axially upward and into meshing engagement with capstan bevel gears 82' and '84 to thereby couple the two capstans together for. synchronous rotation about their respective axes. The apparatus may then be again started and the capstans 42 :and 44 will, through theirmetering action on the individual strands, serve to hold the ply point constant and feed each of the strands to the ,ply point at the same rate and tinder substantially the same tension irrespective of small variations in tension which may occur in the strands as they are fed to the input side of the capstans.

It will thus be appreciated that this apparatus provides among its many advantages the dual advantage of ease in initial adjustments and balancing of the tensions'in the strands, being plied by visual observation of the ply point, while also permitting in the actual production operation of the apparatus greater maladjustment in tension balance in the separate strands yet stillv producing. a good and: Of advantage also is the fact that the apparatus and method do not depend for their utility on the accuracy of calibra-ti'ouof strand tension devices, etc..-,"since the tension adjustment is by comparison andnotby absohlte measurement.

It will be understood that relative terminology, such as above, below, lower, upper, etc., is used in the specification and/or claims solely for describing the relationship of certain elements with respect to other elements when the apparatus is in its normal upright position and should not be construed as limiting the elements of the invention to this precise position.

Among the many various possible modifications of this apparatus, it will be apparent that the major and minor axes of rotation of the capstan assembly and individual capstans may be non-intersecting in lieu of the intersecting axes as illustrated in the preferred embodiment, in which case a suitable connecting idler and capstan gearing arrangement may be of the hypoid type. In such a modification it will be apparent that it will'be most advantageous to arrange the two minor canted or skewed axes of the two capstan symmetrically relative to the major capstan array axis in order to provide for proper balance of the assembly.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus is not limited to a construction embodying only two metering capstans, but may if desired be modified to include three, four or more metering capstans for the plying together of larger numbers of strands, or for the passage of each strand over two or more capstans.

It will be apparent that many other modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as illustrated by the illustrative embodiment shown and described herein, and it is therefore'to be understood that the scope of the invention is only to be limited'by the scope of the appended claims. w

l. A ply action apparatus, comprising a strand metering'device having at least two strand metering capstans, said metering device being adapted to rotate and said capstans being adapted to each engage a respective one of two separate strands for synchronous metering thereof to a ply point therebeyond, and means for selectively coupling and decoupling said capstans.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is further provided means for adjusting the tension on at least one of said strands.

3. An equalizer capstan'array comprising at least two capstans mounted for rotation about a common major axis and each about an axis separate from said major axis, and coupling means adapted to selectively couple together and decouple said capstans.

4. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3 wherein the axis of each of said capstans is transverse to said major axis.

5. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3 wherein each of said capstans is rotatable about a separate axis canted with respect to each other.

6. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3 wherein the axes of said capstan-s are transverse to one another and symmetrical with respect to each other and said major axis, said individual capstan axes intersecting said major axis.. x 7. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a member adapted to move axially along said major axis.

8. An equalizer'capstan array according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a coupling gear mounted for rotation about said major axis, said capstans each having gears adapted to mesh with said coupling gear.

9. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 8 wherein said capstan gears and said coupling gear are relatively movable in a path parallel with respect to said major axis.

10. An equalizer'capstan array according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a member adapted to move axially along said major axis, and means for holding said member selectively in coupled positions. 4 a

11. An equalizer-capstan array according to .claim 10 wherein said holding means comprises afresiliently' ar ranged detent. j

12. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprises a movable memher, and detent means for holding said memberselectively in coupled and decoupled positions, said detentmeans being operative in response to rotation of said capstans about said axis to exert an increased movement-restraining force on said member as compared to the movement restraining force exerted while stationary.

13. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 3 wherein said capstans are mounted on a shaft rotatable about said major axis, saidcoupling means comprising a member mounted on said shaft and movable axially and rotatably relative to said shaft.

I 14. An equalizer capstan array according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a detent adapted to hold said coupling member in selectively coupled and decoupled positions.

15. An equalizer capstanarray according to claim 14 wherein said coupling member is mounted on said shaft on a symmetrical three point suspension system including said detent as one point thereof.

16. A ply action apparatus, comprising a strand metering device having a pair of selectively coupled strand metering capstans, means for generating a balloon of a first strand from a first source, means for guiding a second strand substantially along the axis of said balloon, said metering device being rotatable about said balloon axis, said capstans being adapted to each engage a respective one of said strands for synchronous metering thereof to 2. ply point therebeyond, means for decoupling said capstans, and means for adjusting the tension on at least one of said strands. V 7

17. Method of twisting together at least two strands at a Y-shaped ply point and equalizing the tension in said strands as they approach said ply point, comprising feeding said strands under two separate conditions into said ply point from spaced apart points transversely spaced from the twist axis, one of said conditions permitting said strands to feed freely to said ply point at independently coupled a variable rates, each of the rates being a function of the tension in the individual strands, and the second of said conditions comprising maintaining said yarns in positive synchronized one-to-one feed relation from said spaced apart points to said ply point; and adjusting the tension on at least one of said strands, so as to center the ply point during twisting under said first condition; said second condition following said first condition and constituting the normal twisting condition after initial setting of strand tension. i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,752,749 Halleux July 3, 1956 

